Dear Past Me: You Had No Idea What Was Coming

Dear Cindy,

It has been a year. A whole year of moving, adapting, learning, and unlearning. You left, you returned, and you left again. You’ve stepped across borders, not just physically but mentally, testing your limits and questioning your choices. And here you are, still searching, still growing. And through it all, you’ve learned your biggest lesson: live your life intentionally.

Flying

Life has taught you to move, just like the borders you cross—knowing when to stay and when to go. Borders may impose a limit, but they don’t define your ability to belong. Instead of seeing them as restrictions, you’ve learned to navigate them with ease, making transitions smoother each time.

But is this what you were meant to learn? To be someone who can adapt and act quickly, someone always ready to move—but who must also plan ahead? Change isn’t just about speed—it’s about knowing when to move and when to stay still. Knowing when to leap and when to pause. Recognising that movement is only meaningful when it’s intentional.

NSA with Life and Comfort

You love Japan. You always have. And for a time, you thought that love was enough. But is it?

Your curiosity pushed you to travel more during your stay, and that’s when you saw the truth—Japan alone isn’t enough. What you’re chasing isn’t just a place, but an experience, a feeling, a constant state of discovery. You can miss Japan, but you also know the world has so much more to offer.

Too often, people spend their lives chasing one thing, then another, always looking ahead to the next. But you’ve realised something important—the goal isn’t the thing itself. It’s the journey. The people you meet, the fleeting moments, the way time and space shape you.

So focus on your goals, but don’t forget to live in the now. Appreciate the small details, the faces around you, the spaces you pass through. The moment you are in now is just as important as the one you are moving towards.

Don’t let chasing the next thing take away the beauty of the present.

Learning Japanese

You always wanted to blend in, to become a chameleon in every place you stayed. You thought learning Japanese was about becoming like the Japanese, about finding a way to belong. But you were wrong.

You are a gaijin, and that is not something to erase.

You don’t need to be like anyone else to connect with them. Learning a language isn’t about fitting in—it’s about opening yourself up to understanding. The best way to learn is by admitting where you are, what you don’t know, and allowing yourself to grow from there.

This shift in perspective has given you something deeper than language. You don’t need to become anyone else. You don’t need to like anyone to learn from them. By knowing and embracing yourself first, you create space for real connections, for real understanding.

You’ve always wanted to blend in—but why? Maybe standing out is its own kind of belonging. Maybe by being yourself, you invite others to do the same. You don’t need to disappear into the culture around you. Instead, you can let it shape you while staying true to who you are.

Taking Care of Yourself Differently

I used to keep saying ‘better’ but this time I say: differently.

Not just better—differently. Real change isn’t about making small improvements; it’s about shifting the way you think, act, and prioritise. It’s about making intentional choices.

You are learning to take control of what matters and let go of what doesn’t. That means leaving behind unhealthy habits (yes, including those sugary drinks). It means not just being curious, but actively exploring. It means stepping into each day with awareness and purpose.

So, Cindy, Here’s What You Need to Remember:

• • Nothing is a coincidence—if you see it as it is not.

• • Live your life intentionally.

• • Keep moving, but do it with purpose.

• • Keep learning, but stay true to yourself.

• • Keep chasing experiences, but don’t forget to live in the moment.

• • Stand out. Embrace who you are. That is where real belonging begins.

Wherever you go next, go with intention. 

You are exactly where you need to be! Woot woot!

With love,
Cindy from today- wiser, braver, and still learning.